1. I just realized where I’d seen this guy from the 2011 short-lived, nearly already forgotten, but pretty solid Fox sitcom, Traffic Light.

He played Colin in Love Actually. (You’ll also notice CeCe’s ex-boyfriend from “Trafffic Light,” as well as Pam Beesley’s ex-boyfriend. WHY DIDN’T Y’ALL WATCH THIS SHOW?)

Speaking of Kris Marshall, he so enjoyed filming his scenes with January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, and that other woman that he returned his paycheck for the day.

2. As many interweaving plotlines as Love Actually had, there was actually another one about a lesbian headmistress (the headmistress of the school where Emma Thompson’s kid attended) whose lover would die of cancer. That same lesbian character, played by Anne Reid, was also in another deleted scene, which revealed the Bernard wrote an essay about his Christmas wish, which was to be able to see farts.

It’s a great scene, actually, if you stick around for the payoff.

3. Earlier promotional material for the film played up Rowan Atkinson’s participation in the film, though in the end, most of his scenes were cut. He only appeared twice in the film.

4. Ironically, Simon Pegg was first considered for Atkinson’s role of Rufus. Originally, Rufus was mean to be an angel in the film.

5. This scene, in which Colin inadvertently insults the wedding chef’s food, was actually written and filmed for Four Weddings and a Funeral, but after it was cut, Richard Curtis used it for Love Actually.

6. Another connection between Four Weddings and Love Actually is that the original title for Love Actually was Love is All Around, based on the terrible song in Four Weddings.

The title was dropped, but the song was reworked as Bill Nighy’s Christmas song, “Christmas is All Around.”

7. The inspiration for this scene, where the wedding crowd sings “All You Need Is Love,” was actually inspired by Jim Henson’s funeral, where Henson’s puppeteers sang the same song, the thought of which makes me misty.

If there’s one thing to take away from this post, please let it be this. If you’ve never seen the puppeteers singing Jim Henson’s favorite songs at his memorial, it is outstanding.

8. “Game of Thrones’” fans all must know by now that Sam is Jojen Reed. But I’m still blown away by the fact that he’s also the voice of Ferb in “Phineas and Ferb,” even though Ferb is typically limited to only one line per episode. PARENT TRIVIA.

9. Because she is so naturally thin, Emma Thompson wore a fat suit for most of Love, Actually.

10. These dolls are really just Ken dolls dressed in drag by the props department.

11. Weirdly, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Gambon and Michael Crawford were all considered for the role of Prime Minister, which seems like a role that couldn’t have been better suited to Hugh Grant.

12. Elisha Cuthbert, who was in Love Actually, and plays Alex in “Happy Endings” actually has a Love Actually display in her store in the episode “No Ho Ho.”

13. In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Marisa Tomei was first offered the role of Carrie, which would go to Andie MacDowell. Tomei had to decline because of a ailing grandfather. Melanie Griffith and Brooke Shields were also offered the role first. Speaking of Andie MacDowell, the budget on Four Weddings and a Funeral was a paltry $6 million; MacDowell declined a fee and took a percentage, instead. The surprise hit ultimately netted her $2 million, while Hugh Grant made only $100,000 for his appearance. (Grant, for his part, thought the movie was awful while he was filming it).

MacDowell is the only thing I didn’t like about this movie. Tomie would’ve been perfect.

14. Alan Rickman was actually the first choice to play Charles, the role that would go to Hugh Grant.

15. Although she was not in it, Four Weddings and a Funeral also essentially launched the career of Elizabeth Hurley, who overshadowed her boyfriend, Hugh Grant, at the premiere, and launched to worldwide fame thanks to this Versace dress.

Are you following Pajiba on Facebook or Twitter? Every time you do, Bill Murray crashes a wedding.

Comments Are Welcome, Bigots and Trolls Are Not

Buck Forty

'Love is All Around You' was actually a huge hit around the world for Wet, Wet, Wet. If it's any consolation the lead singer ended up addicted to heroin, so it's fair to say he certainly suffered for his art/sins.

AvaLehra

Tomei would have been perfect! Andie Macdowell was TERRIBLE in that. Ugh!

Trixie

I loved the Jim Henson memorial but, did I miss "All You Need is Love?"

,

Who wore it better?

Elizabeth Hurley 100%

Gag 0

Captain_Tuttle

I haven't heard "Halfway Up the Stairs" since I was a kid, and yet I still remember all the words. Damn video broke my heart all over again. Stupid Muppet-filled childhood.

Mrs. Julien

That medley was essentially The Muppet Show album, not that I'm complaining.

delle

I sometimes feel like the only person in the world who does not love "Four Weddings and a Funeral".The apparent universal love for it made me add it to my list of movies I must watch at some point in my life, and I finally got around to it a couple of years ago.I hated it. It bored me senseless and I found very little of it funny. When the credits finally started I said "oh thank God, it's over". I stuck it through because I was confused as to why I wasn't enjoying it and thought surely it must get better. I am mystified as to why it gets so much attention.

And normally I love British movies; "Love Actually" is one of my favs.

DeltaJuliet

You're NOT the only one. Hate Four Weddngs, love Love Actually.

Mrs. Julien

"and everybody loves her because she's heaven"

Lysander and I quote this line frequently.

(I can't tell you how much my beloved hates it that I call him Lysander on here. He never reads the site, but it gives me such joy to annoy hi,m even in absentia.)

This is a remarkably calm and civilized discourse considering it features one of Pajiba's most divisive films, the always delightful Love Actually. Next thing you know, we'll all be holding hands and cooing over the Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley and (velvet-voiced, oh so bangable) Matthew Macfadyen. Aaaand now I'm flashing back to the big fight at in the rain and my stays are loosening themselves.

emilya

COLIN FIRTH FOREVER

Melissa D

I love, love, love that version of P&P and I am not ashamed to admit it!

Mrs. Julien

I don't love, love, love it, but I thought they were both very good and that the scene where they are dancing and everyone else disappears was inspired. I could have done without the pigs in the yard and the Haversham-esque house.

Mrs. Julien

Plus MACFADYEN. Always MACFADYEN.

Bedewcrock

You won me over on that one. Death at a Funeral, everyone!

Melissa D

He's the reason why I started watching MI5. Ahhhhh. The A&E P&P was the very first DVD I ever bought (and it was ridiculously expensive), and I do think it is, by far, the most faithful adaptation of the book. Love it to pieces. But the latest P&P has much more emotional resonance for me. That scene when she stares at herself in the mirror while he brings her the letter, him walking across the meadow in the early morning to find her...ahhhhhhh!

That being said, I could have done without the ending. It could happily have ended right at that meadow and I would have been content. And since it's all about me, that's what should have happened.

George

Kris Marshall was in one of my favorites, 2007 Death at a Funeral.

Steph

When John Hannah reads "Stop All the Clocks" at the funeral? I just lose it.

Miss Kate

Curse you, Pajiba! First the Phil Hartman, now singing muppets? You are determined to leave me a sniffling mess at my desk today. *Shakes fist weepily*

raeraefred

that last song in the memorial service! (although the version that makes me bawl every time is "the muppets tribute to jim henson" version. when kermit walks in ...)

JenVegas

I watched the hell out of Traffic Light and then *poof* it was gone. Now I just play Spot-the-Traffic-Light Hey-That-Guy a lot.

chanohack

These men with their muppet voices. They creep me out. No wait, no they don't. They're adorable. Aw, I love them. They make me cry. And now puppets... PUPPET FLASH MOB?!

Charlotte Coleman always comes to mind for me for Four Weddings, and as a fellow asthmatic who found her awfully cute, it depresses me to no end that she died alone of a massive asthma attack that would have been scary as hell right to the final moments.

Ugh, I hated Andie McDowell in that movie. "Is it raining? I hadn't noticed." No other line delivery in the history of cinema has made my skin crawl like that. The best thing I can say about her in that movie was at least she wasn't Julia Roberts.

I really want a fart-detecting spray now. You'd have to be a bit of an ass to use it, like "I know it was one of yours, let's spray this near your butts and see whose it was!" but still.

BWeaves

When my parents put a pool in 35 years ago, the pool guy told us kids that the disinfectant they put in the water to keep it clean turned neon green if someone peed in the pool, and that there would be a path of neon green urine snaking its way back to our butts. I haven't peed in a pool since.

Yes, I've always heard people say that at the public pools too, and for the short time that I believed them, I unfortunately took it to mean that no kids peed in the pool, because I never saw any colored water. Naive, naive, naive.

,

I've a friend who lifeguards at a public pool. She has told me stories that convinced me never, ever, to dip a toe in a public pool again.

Two words, people:

Code Brown.

Jakesalterego

Traffic Light, Dustin. It was Traffic Light.

fribbley

I loved this show, particularly Liza Lapira and Nelson Franklin.

Slim

It's streaming on Netflix. I mourned the passing of Perfect Couples more than Traffic Light.

pajiba

You're right, but the original name of the British series was RED Light.* I always get them confused .

* I totally made that up.

Kristen Mc

I had no idea Jojen was also Ferb! Finally my kids and I can enjoy Game of Thrones together. It's appropriate for 9 year old girls, right? Dustin, you are a mommy blogger.....advice?